City Council - Regular Meeting

testing.

[snorts]

we wouldn't be in trouble. All right, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order and ask Reverend Glasper to lead us in invocation. If everyone please stand up. Thank you.

Let us bow our heads in a word of prayer. Our [snorts] Father and our God, we thank thee for this day. We thank you for your son, Jesus, who died on Calvar's cross that we all might have a right to the tree of life. Now, Father, we invoke your Holy Spirit into these chambers. We ask you to bless our mayor, our city councilman, our city attorney, our city clerk, our police chief, and all the staff of Lel. But God, we ask you most of all to remember that we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Teach us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. God, we pray especially tonight for the widow and the family of Phil Bonham. God, we pray that this seat is empty, but we know that he's somewhere in glory rejoicing with his family and with the Lord. So God, let us remember the legacy and the service and the commitment that Phil Bonham has brought to the city of Lel. May he live on in our hearts and we may we never forget him. Thank you God for this wonderful man, this great man of God. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] like to welcome everyone here tonight and thank you for being here for this occasion we're going to have a little bit later on. For right now, we got to go with the agenda and the uh first item on the agenda is public comments. If anyone would like to come up and speak

that one. Okay. Uh, first let me welcome to our new board member, Mr. Gillespie. I'm sure his focus will be on the

Oh, I I forgot how to do this. I haven't been here for a while. Richard Lynch, 613 White Oak Drive, LOL, North Carolina. So, let me start again. Let me welcome Mr. Gillespie as a new member here to the uh council. He'll be sitting in in January. and I'm sure his focus will be on what is best for LOL and his people as we move forward. And speaking of moving forward, I am hoping that we have a plan of action to address the storm water and collection systems as they are two are those two are extremely important in the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plant. There are a few proposals I would like to make tonight concerning the wastewater treatment plant upgrades as well as our storm water and collection systems. It is my understanding from talking with various individuals that we are once again having discussions with outside consultants and not inviting our wastewater treatment plant operator and engineer in on those discussions. Now I may be wrong but I believe it was the very practice this very practice that led us to the brink of surrendering this multi-million dollar revenue producing asset [clears throat] to Two Rivers. It has also come to my attention that our public works director, who from what I hear has zero certifications in wastewater treatment plant or storm water operations, has chosen not only to ignore the suggestions from the head of the storm water as well as our wastewater treatment plant operator and engineer, but instead insist on doing things his way. I would like to suggest that we put into place a protocol for all steps concerning our wastewater treatment plant, our collection system, and our storm water. Common sense would dictate that since these are all interconnected, there should be an open line of communication between all those that are involved. These communications should all have a chain of custody as uh to

serve as a check that all concerned parties are involved in the decision-making. It is rather disturbing that we hired someone with certifications in four areas of four areas and years of experience in stormwater arena only to have her advice and suggestions seem to fall on deaf ears. To the credit of our city manager, Mr. Cobb, we now have in place a practice where all heads are to produce a weekly report of what they have done for the week. I would like to see us go one step further and that these reports be verified as being accurate. Any discrepancies in reports of work being done that was not needs to be met with disciplinary action, including dismissal of employees if there's a constant uh pattern of false reports to secure the confidence of the people of LOL. It may prove very useful to use to post weekly or bimonthly reports on LOL's web page displaying where we are, what has been done, and what is next along with the expenditures and uh concerning the wastewater treatment plant collection system and our storm water. The report had the report was that was handed to you this evening is from the 1990s. And I gave a copy of this report to the head of our storm water department and she agrees that while it is almost 30 years old, there is a great deal of information and suggestions that we could put in place today. The question has come up on how we're going to pay for the repairs to our collection system and storm water lines. I would like to suggest that the first thing we do is to reapply for the $5 million lowinterest loan that was offered to us should we give away our waste treatment plant to Two Rivers. If for some reason we are told that those funds are not available because we did not give away our plant to Two Rivers, I think it should raise questions as to the ethics as well as the locality of that requirement and our legal department should be looking into

it. We also need to set up a storm water account which is my understanding should have been done from day one and we need to deposit all storm water fees past and present into that account. These funds should be applied immediately to repairing broken lines, cleaning ditches, culverts, and building swells wherever necessary. I don't think the people of law would be too happy knowing that they are paying into a specific fund called storm water and those funds are not in a stormwater account. I believe our mayor suggested that our public works department apply approximately 15 to 20 hours of their work week to address these projects. This seems to be a reasonable suggestion and needs to have further discussion. And folks, we must not make the mistake of continuing to ignore these vital infrastructure issues. Our council members Robinson Bates and Chipwood were wise in their vote to keep our wastewater treatment plant. I am confident that they will continue to follow the research when it comes to what needs to be done concerning these three important infrastructure issues and hope they will be joined by other council members Smith and Gillespie when vote voting to move forward with plans to address the concerns that I have spoken of tonight. Thank you and may we never forget that God has blessed America.

Thank you. Thank you.

Anyone [clears throat] else like to speak tonight? Candy Thunderberg, Robusen Boulevard level. Uh, first of all, I'd like to say congratulations to Shane and Thomas and Travis. And also, I'd like to say thank you, council, for continuing on of what I'm calling passing the flag. when a mayor or a council member passes as we we're going to give the flag to the Bonum family tonight. I appreciate y'all still going to do that. Also, I'm talking for the Loyal Community Committee. I'm not I'm just on the committee. I'm not chair or vice chair, but we do a lot of things um that people don't know. Seasonal flowers, spring and fall, all the banners downtown. We've ordered some new ones for Christmas. I hope everyone will like them. Uh and banners down mechan people were cutting off. There were solar lights. People were cutting them off at the bottom. That's why they look bad. We've ordered some new ones and hopefully they'll work this time. Um, also we pressure washed and painted city hall. The windows were cleaned. We painted the letters on the city brick out front so that they popped the pl they were kind of a gray. We uh had them painted black. Also, we made the railing uh [clears throat] as you can see and painted and installed the mayor portraits. And those were over here all scrunched up. And then when they were taken down, couldn't find them for a long time. And all of the frames, especially the old ones, they were in bad shape. So, we had them all redone and um had the railing installed and painted and didn't cost a lot of money. We do have a small budget, but we try to save every bit that we can. And also, we chose this year's Grand Marshall as the Bonum family, and she's here tonight. But that's a little bit of u what the uh LCC does. And we also have done in the past the facade grants and we're still

looking at that for businesses where we can help them out. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments?

Thomas Gillespie, 208 South Main Street. Um just want to say uh congratulations to Travis and to Shane. Uh, I've had the pleasure and privilege to work with Shane over the years, a great man, and I've had the privilege to work with, uh, Dwayne Chitwood, and it's just, uh, kind of like coming back home. So, I want to say thank you for that. But I rise tonight to say to the uh, city of Ly um, and to those who are out on uh, YouTube that there is going to be a citywide Thanksgiving service. all the churches in ly come together all the churches and we have a community thanksgiving service which we've had for many many years sponsored you know by the the ministers in Gassa County of and ly and it will be November the 23rd at 6:00 at the Presbyterian church right down here across from the post office and we certainly invite everyone in the city and the council to come to this service. Thank you. And you forgot the minister from Mount Calvary. The new minister is going to be doing the service at Pres.

What's his name? I don't know his name. He's a new minister though. He'll be the one doing the service at Presbyterian. And that's where it's going to be held at Presbyterian. I can't remember his name, but uh anyway, it's um he's only been there for about a month, right? But he's going to be doing the service. So, we welcome him and all and the whole city needs to be welcomed and an invitation as you said. Absolutely. And we'll have Thanksgiving service for everybody. That's right. Thank you. Anyone else have anything to speak about? Thank you. All right. The next thing on the agenda will be the adoption of the agenda for this meeting. I think there's one thing that we've made a change on. One change. Six E removed from the agenda.

Take 6E out. All right. Anyone else have anything comment about the agenda or we'll just leave that out and adopt it as it's written. Need a motion to adopt it as written with that one exemption. Make a motion that we adopt the agenda as written minus the 68. Thank you. Have a sec. Okay. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Thank you.

Are you called up now? Are you call it? Thank you. All right. The uh next thing we to approve of minutes of October the 14th, 2025 the city council minutes. Any changes in that adopt as written. Make a motion to approve October 14th city council minutes.

Thank you. All in favor? Thank you. At this time, we have a special presentation to honor Bill Bonham's legacy here in law as a council member with his family. Jackson's with us and Lindsay. Jackson and Lindsay, we want to read this to you tonight. We pause to honor the life and legacy of council me councilman Phil Bonham. Phil was more than a councilman. He was a friend, a leader, and a true servant of this community. He cared deeply about Lyall and dedicated himself to making a it a better place for all. His integrity, kindness, and steady leadership left a lasting mark on everyone, including me, who had the privilege to know him. Phil led with compassion and always put people first. His voice, his wisdom, his and his sense of humor was really a sense of humor. We'll be deeply missed, but his spirit will continue to guide us in the work we do for this city. To his family, please know that Phil's legacy lives on in the heart of this community, and he's loved so much. Thank you, Councilman Bonham, for your service, your friendship, and your example. You will never be forgotten. And Mr. Chitwood and and Mr. Smith would have y'all come up. We'll give you the flag.

Thank you. All the council wants to come up. All the council members

[clears throat] I also have a plaque. Someone made me one. I don't know who it was, but at the end of my service in 23 and I had this made for you. Says George Bonum council member, thank you for your years of service and dedication to the city of L. Live, love l December 2017, October 2025. [snorts]

[applause] [clears throat]

Thank you. [snorts] The next thing on the agenda will be the consent agenda. We need adopt a motion to adopt the complete consent agenda unless you have any changes. Okay. So, we just make a motion we adopt the consent agenda. Second.

Second. All in favor? Thank you. All right. Unfinished business. We don't have anything new business. Um 6A. [cough]

Good [snorts] evening. Evening.

Um we have uh consideration of budget amendment number seven. This attached budget amendment is to move POW bill funds actually from the general fund and into a separate fund for POW bill. Uh this move will facilitate the migration to Black Mountain software. All municipalities using Black Mountain software have a uniform chart of accounts. This chart of accounts has PAL bill and fund 20. Having PAL bill funds on a separate fund also makes the reporting process more efficient. I also have included a letter from uh Chase Norwood at the league regarding best practices um to help you um understand why we're doing this. But I can take any questions if you have any.

We just move that whole account from one to another. Yes. From fund 10 to fund 20 because that's where it's housed in Black Mountain. It has to go with that one. Yes. 20. I don't go ahead. Looking back at some of the uh reconciled bank balances, it's got different fund numbers on there. So I show fund 20 being water deposits. Is that or is that [snorts] something separate than um I don't remember fund 20 on the bank reconciliation. I'm looking at uh an older one. It's from 930, but uh [clears throat] different, you know, it shows the different funds on there, but yeah. Yeah. Well, fund

maybe double check that. This may not may not matter. This may be something totally different. And fund 30 is actually the water and sewer fund, but fund 20 currently is not being used um with us. So, and that is the fund that they use with Black Mountain is fund 20. Yeah, it shows water and sewer fund [snorts] 30 but then to the left and that like I say that may be something totally different. I just won't make sure I can show you what it what it it is, but it I don't think it has anything to do with with the actual

Yeah, the the POW bill funds themselves are in a separate bank account currently. When we make this move, those funds will be moved into the operating account and then you will see that fund 20 and show you that balance for PAL bill funds rather than POW bill being separate in a separate account that you see. This one shows 15 from POW bill, but like I say, that may be something totally different. Yeah. Still an interest bearing account, right? Yes, sir. I guess that's all I need. We need a motion to change that or just should be just reflected in the general. We don't have a line item budget. I don't know why we'd have to do that.

I make a m amendment we consider make a motion we consider the budget amendment number seven for 2526. Second. under discussion. We don't have a line item budget. We have a just a general budget. So what would be the need to move your money from one to another which is already in the same budget. What would be necessary? I don't care what what company we're going with for the computer system or whatever. What would be the need to change it? Because we we do not have a line item budget. We have a general fund budget. back. I think it just makes it more transparent on the reporting. [snorts] It's all and and easier for the for the reporting because it's not housed in the general [clears throat] fund,

right? When you set your budget every year, you get all the money all together as far as what it cost for the streets and whatever fund it is. But we do not have a line item budget. I don't think we we should ever enter into a line on budget because it would make it tough for us as a small city to uh be able to use money adequately adequately to transfer [snorts] funds. You'd have every time you did something you'd have to come in here and have a motion and really we don't have a line item budget. You understand what I'm speaking about, Mr. Attorney? Senior L does not have a line item budget. We have a general budget overall. That doesn't that's not what this amendment is for. I mean this amendment

to set it aside and say but it's aside anyway inside the budget still the feel it's still the uh budget for for our streets and sidewalk that's what it's for the general the general fund encompasses all of it the streets and everything all the money we give power bill everything

so I don't I mean it's up to y'all I mean you can vote it any way you want to but it makes no sense because you you only have one budget it's a [snorts] general fund budget a total budget you have water sewer and everything it's not separate ated and now all the money's coming in together that you do have water fund, you do have sewer fund. It's all housed under one budget and like some of these cities that have the line item budget and things like that. That's for bigger cities. We we should never go away from what we have. It is all one budget, but everything has to be kept separated. Right now, it's separated anyway. I'm just saying everything has to be kept separated. You get your budget, your file bill money separated from your general fund monies. And all this is doing is just storing it

power bill money can only be used for power for what power bill has allowed us to to do it for that's okay. You can you can word it any way you want to but [snorts] we only have one budget. So you got a motion and second to set this aside. I understand but you still you want to go line item by line item. It's it'll be tough for you cuz if you ever needed something you can't get it. But go ahead. Motion second. Any more discussion? All in favor? Thank you. All right. The next item number eight, I guess that's you as well.

Yes, sir. Uh, this attached budget amendment is to receive sponsorship funds from Back the Blue. Back the Blue is a private company the police department utilized to design a calendar that are sponsored by our local businesses. Back the Blue contacts the businesses on behalf of the Ly Police Department and designs and prints the calendars. The L Police Department receives 200 calendars and a $1,500 check. The calendars will be given to the businesses that participated. And this budget amendment is to receive the $1,500 check. This process has already started. This this is they've already started doing this. Yes, sir.

Soliciting the business and everything else. And now we're coming now we're talking about this later on after the fact. This should have been explained to the council, the board before it ever happened. because it's it was news to me. I heard it from Randlow. I didn't know. Ran low always does it. It came from Ramlow [snorts] to me. That's how I found out we we're doing it here. Once I received the check, that's when I did the budget amendment.

So, you don't have to it's not public record to the people of Loyal that we just a list of money to have calendars and things like that. I mean, it's just just, you know, everything needs to be above board 100%. Not backwards upfront. That's my opinion. I'll make a motion to approve budget amendment number eight. Second. Any discussion?

All in favor? Thank you. All right. The next thing is the school community use agreement. [clears throat] So, um, the Gaston County School Board, uh, has been working on an agreement, um, for athletics to use our facilities and and vice versa, um, in case something were to happen. We had an agreement back in place uh, 2019. They they originally sent the agreement um, last month, but it came in too late for me to get on the agenda. So, this agreement is just to update the current one that was back was in place in 2019. Again, allowing the Gaston County schools to use our athletic facilities in case of um an emergency of theirs. Guess we have already have that in order already. Do we need a motion to

Yeah, we have. This is a new This is the updated one. Um that would go if it was voted on upon tonight. They'll have to check and see if if we needed the dates and everything coincide with whatever they want. Yeah. So they so if we have something already in place um they would not be allowed to use it. It's only um the use would only be allowed um if we have nothing on our calendar. We don't cancel any events that we have currently um or anything like that. It just be Yeah. But yeah, this pertains to use of the recreation center or I I think um ball field. Yeah. Yeah. I think with I don't know specifically the rec center was in there. Um

it it could it I mean I think it applies to all the facilities that city has or likewise that the school system has if the city would want to use them but it's not want to use we'd be allowed to use it. We just have to have a date under the circumstances it's not in use only for only for recreation it's not mandatory only for recreation purposes. Okay. And this is just a renewal. Yes. Like I said, the last one was signed back in 2019. This is this is during we don't have to pay the c the county school system anything. Have we been having to pay to use the buildings facilities or anything in the past? We haven't we haven't rented them out since I've been here. So, I'm not sure. I don't know.

So, like you just said, it's only for recreational. We couldn't use the auditorium for like what was used for council meetings. Correct. This is this only just recreational. Correct. Okay. I guess we need a motion to adopt it. Make a motion to approve the school community use agreement. Second. All in favor? Thank you. Next item. The community center. Go ahead.

You got you got the administrator. Okay. Uh I guess the title of the community center impaired cost assessment. So I guess that'll be you.

Yeah. So um the city's looking to plan um some updating projects at the community center to enhance the appearance, [snorts] the safety, and the and the usability of the facility. Um the improvements will focus on the downstairs areas which have significant wear and tear due to frequent use over the years. Um we're looking to replace 4 540 ft in the two main rooms when you walk in the front doors. Um and also freshen up some of the paint downstairs. Um this just had a bunch of, you know, wear and tear on it over the years. This um these funds would come from the economic uh North Carolina regional economic grant program that we received um a few years back. I have the quotes listed in there in your packet. Now, we are looking to go with um Larry Well painting and Barrett Floren. Um so, if you'd like to look over the uh proposals that are in there,

didn't the bid start from 11,000 down to 2,000 or something? Um I believe yes some are separated like just paint just there's three there's three painting and uh what's the total bid from Larry Wales what's the total bid total the total bid for Larry is $1,000 to do all the painting in there and then the flooring cost was going to be uh 2874 so it's a total of 3874 Mhm. You want to vote on those separately or or all together? Are you you don't we don't even need to vote on something you can handle yourself in it?

Well, I'm just bringing it before y'all to let you know that this is something we're going to do like to do. So, you already got the money. I have not I have not I've not awarded any contracts yet. I was bringing it before y'all before we did anything. So, what's your recommendation? What I mean, you're going with a low bid. Is that what you're saying? Yes, sir. Yeah, I'm going with Larry Wills. You can't argue with that. That's tremendous. and Barrett floor. So, and again, this is from grant money. Yes, correct. When is it supposed to start or when are you looking at start or looking at start? Just as soon as possible. Yeah. I like I said, I would I haven't gave anybody the show the contract

there. Um the other thing is while we're on this same talking about the community center like I like I brought up last month. Um there is a need for a new um HBAC there. The heat is out there. Um I have two two bids currently waiting on a third one. So once I get that, I'll bring that to you as well. And and it will be used. We will take the money out of this. All that money we just spent remodeling that place and updating everything. They didn't put new heat. They didn't put Hback system in it. All the money to spend. That wasn't part of the remodel. Wait a minute. Was that How much was it? Like a half a million dollar. It was all exterior. Nothing really interior.

Find Get the minutes on how much they spent on that community center for the next meeting, please, and see. I don't understand how you can spend that much money and not put an HVAC system in it upstairs. It's it's it's a joke. You've been upstairs having your time. I have. Yes, sir. It's terrible, isn't it? Yeah. They're and they're working on they've been working on getting it cleaned out from up there and getting all that stuff. With all the money they spend, it should be like the like Trump's palace I think at the White House. It should be welcoming. Not like it's a shame like we have to be ashamed of it. But thank you for bringing things up to date for us. All right. And I I guess the next thing is the pay policy. I should No, we removed that. So that's

that's right. I'm sorry. You're right. All right. The city manager, you have anything? Uh no, just I think y'all should have got a a sheet in on your desk that had the uh upcoming events. The uh the Christmas tree lighting December 1st. Uh the Christmas parade. Uh the Christmas tree lighting, not December 6th. No, that's the parade. December December 1st at um 5:30 is the Christmas tree lighting here at McCord Park. And then the uh the Christmas parade and the artisan uh market's going to be uh starting at 1:00 on December the 6th. Thank you. You have anything else? That's all I've got. Mr. Turner, you have anything? Not today.

Uh Mr. Robinson? I do not. Mr. Bates? No, sir. Mr. Chwood? No. Mr. Smith? Uh just short um thank you for all the citizens um for entrusting me on another term urban on city council. Appreciate that. And um happy veterans day to veterans tomorrow. Absolutely. And that's already been touched on, but the mayor pictures look great from the LC or LCC. And thank y'all for that and all y'all do.

That's that one the right at the bottom. I tell you, we just need a little bit little bit of touchup on it. But but anything he he hit on what I was going to bring up about the veterans deal tomorrow. It's going to be that's great. We all we never want to ever forget them. That's for sure. And and what a how important all of our veterans are and serving today and years gone by. But always been, you know, patriotic city for everything and we want to continue to do that. But we have a lot of things in this city that needs a lot of attention down the road and and we'll wait till the I think I'll wait till the new council comes in. Everybody can take take be a part of everything. We'll just go home early tonight cuz I I told my wife I said I'll be home less than 30 minutes and she said there's no way. But I think we're about right. So we need a motion to adjourn. I guess

a motion to adjourn. I make a motion we adjourn the meeting. All right. Second. All in favor? Thank y'all. Appreciate it. Y'all have a good night.

Have a kind general nation. Y'all have a good night. Thank you. Yeah. The thing was not everybody. Get that